BOX SCORE: USI 83, Drury 72
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The 2nd-ranked University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team soared to a road win over 22nd-ranked Drury University, 83-72, Tuesday evening in Springfield, Missouri. USI raises its overall record to an NCAA-best 22-0 and a GLVC-best 13-0, while Drury fell to 18-5, 11-3 GLVC.
The Screaming Eagles also took over the lead for the nation's longest winning-streak, 22 games. NCAA Division II top-ranked Arkansas Tech University, which is 21-0, is idle until Thursday.
After spotting the Panthers a 5-0 lead in the first two minutes, the Screaming Eagles defense held Drury scoreless for five minutes and generated a 13-0 run to take the lead. USI continued its run until it led by a game-high 15 points, 22-7, with 10:17 to play in the opening half.
The Panthers clawed their way back into the game with a 23-8 run and tied the contest, 30-30, with 3:49 left before the intermission. Drury would retake the lead briefly, 33-32, but USI rallied to go into the locker room at halftime with a 38-37 lead.
The Eagles and Panthers went toe-to-toe for the first eight minutes of the second half, which included 10 lead changes and six ties. USI took the lead for good with 10:39 to play when senior guard Jamar Smith (Peoria, Illinois) struck for three of 18 second half points to give the Eagles a 56-55 lead.
Smith's bucket spurred a 10-2 Eagles' run and allowed USI to take control of the game in the final 10 minutes. USI methodically extended the lead to as many as 11-points three times in the final five minutes, including the 83-72 final.
Three USI Eagles reached double figures in scoring, led by Smith's 30-point performance. The senior guard was 11-of-24 from the field, 7-of-15 from long range, and one-of-two from the charity stripe. The 30-point performance was Smith's fourth game of the season with 30-or-more points.
Smith was joined in double-figure scoring senior forward Tyrone Bradshaw (Cincinnati, Ohio), who had 16 points, and senior guard Marvin Gray (Freeport, Bahamas), who dropped in 12 points.
Junior center Mohamed Ntumba (Kinshasa, Congo) led the Eagles on the glass with nine rebounds, while Bradshaw was second on the squad with seven boards. Both players also had a pair of blocks.
The Eagles return to the friendly confines of the Physical Activities Center Saturday when they host the University of Indianapolis at 3:15 p.m. The Greyhounds, who are scheduled to play at Kentucky Wesleyan College Thursday before coming to the PAC, are 12-11 overall and last in the GLVC East Division with a 6-8 conference mark.
USI won the first meeting with UIndy, 78-70, in Indianapolis last month and leads the overall series, 47-15.
